The Patriot Act

By

Paul A. Gigot

Updated Aug. 2, 2004 12:01 a.m. ET

BOSTON -- The Democrats put on an impressive show here last week, wrapping their candidate in red, white and khaki. Walking around the FleetCenter, I couldn't find a single Democrat, whether delegate or journalist, who didn't think John Kerry had wrapped up the election with his revival of "liberal patriotism." And maybe they're right. But if things look different after Nov. 2, the seeds of defeat will have been sown on Thursday night, with the Kerry speech that went on forever but said too little.